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**Simon O.** · 05-18-2004, 12:41 PM

i'd bet it was just a name tag for his kitbag

**Chris Stewart** · 05-18-2004, 03:18 PM

I know it is not an ID disc (or Dog Tag).

I think Simon has the right idea.

**Mauser** · 05-18-2004, 04:20 PM

Hi guys

would the word <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State><ST1

Kan.</ST1

</st1:State> refer to his navel rank ?

If so would if be possible to research this guy? Unfortunately this is all the information I have to go on.

I suppose a lot of files were destroyed during the war, there is a silver wound badge in the lot and it would be very interesting to see were he served and when he received the wound badge ? <O

</O

Many thanks <O

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Kindest Regards <O

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Mark <O

</O

**Matt L** · 05-18-2004, 06:33 PM

Hi Mark,

'Kan.' is usually the short form for 'Kanonier'- an artillery private. I've just gone through the list of Kriegsmarine ranks (there are a LOT of them), but none seem to be right to contract to 'Kan.' Are you absolutely certain this belongs to a soldier of the Kriegsmarine?

The only way to get information that I'm aware of is to contact the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt)- I'm not sure whether or not they can do much with simply a family name, although this fellow's seems like an uncommon one. If he did indeed serve in the Kreigsmarine, that would make it easier as far fewer men served there than, for example, in the Heer. Perhaps a name such as this could be unique in the KM. The Deutsche Dienststelle is mainly in the business of providing relatives with information, so I don't know if they'll release anything to non-relations, but it can't hurt to try I suppose. There's a fee as well for a search. Here's their website URL: http://com-de.com/wast/

Matt

**Simon O.** · 05-19-2004, 02:11 AM

I'm at work ATM so don't have my books to hand but could Kanonier be used by the Marine Artillerie?

**Mauser** · 05-19-2004, 11:54 AM

Thanks guys
<O

Simon & Matt thanks for helping me with the rank, you have done an excellent job and I think you hit the nail right on the head as I have 2 trade badges which I believe to relate to the rank, I looked in a book and it described one of the trade badges as a “Gun layer rating badge” the other one is very similar but has a chevron on it, I guess he must have been promoted, how ever I am a bit confused as in the below lot is a Costal artillery breast eagle off a tunic ?

Was the costal artillery a branch of the KM/or Heer ? And if so how would this tie in with the KM cap tally and the rest of the badges >? “Could he have been transferred from the Coastal artillery to the Navy? <O

</O

Many thanks for helping guys
<O

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Kindest Regards <O

</O

Mark

**Matt L** · 05-19-2004, 06:51 PM

Hi Mark,

Coastal Artillery was Kriegsmarine- I believe it was part of the Küstendienst, indicated by a 'K' on an identity disc (actually they're the most common type), so indeed this does fit. I am kind of surprised that they'd use the same rank as Heer artillery, but perhaps the major rank list I have is only for actual sea personnel. The eagle indeed appears to be an enlisted KM type (yellow)- kinda neat that it's still on a piece of tunic fabric- and I believe the 'Kriegsmarine' cap tally means he was just in general service (not on a ship), so that fits too. Although I don't really know for sure, I'd think the trade badge with the chevron wouldn't indicate a higher military rank but maybe a master gun layer, or whatever was a level up from the basic one. Naval enlisted and NCO ranks all over the world are really complex- I'm good at the ranks and insignia of all the other branches, but the Kriegsmarine is a hard one.

Matt

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Kriegsmarine Tag ? “ Kan. Kuchenbecker”

Kriegsmarine Tag ? “ Kan. Kuchenbecker”

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